Threads Fashion History

The Threads Fashion Show is a student-run production that provides a platform for aspiring apparel designers and for those students desiring experience in the numerous aspects of fashion production including public relations, photography, video production, graphic design, model management, choreography, stage lighting and design, web design, program guide development, fundraising, booking venues and services, lining up talent, and presenting the show. 

At each show designers have the chance to win awards for their designs. Some of the titles are, Designer of the year, Best First Year Designer, Viewer's Choice, Best Collection, and many more, varying on the theme of the show and what the designers create. CMU invites some of their alumni and special guests with experience in the fashion industry to come judge designs at the Threads Fashion Show along with drawing in fashion employers looking to hire. The show gets stronger each year, and Threads Fashion being one of the largest events on CMU’s campus holds a promising future. 

Threads Fashion was founded in 1998 at Central Michigan University under the Fashion Merchandising and Design program (FMD). The current Advisor is Ian Mull who has been Advisor since 2015, past Advisors include Michael Mamp (2013-2014), Maureen MacGillivray (2002-2005, 2010-2011), and Carol Beard (2012).

The Central Michigan University Fashion Merchandising and Design program is ranked top in Michigan. There are roughly 200-300 students in the program and on average around 60 of those students are involved in Threads Fashion in some form or function. The FMD program makes an effort to stay in contact and support the alumni of the program and where they stand after graduation allowing current CMU students to grow their connection base, ask questions, get advice, and see where they could be headed. Sometimes alumni will be asked to come back to CMU to judge the Threads Fashion show or to speak in classes/panel discussions. In 2019, the FMD program’s Center for Merchandising and Design Technology has worked with theDearborn, MI based Carhartt doing product testing and research with CMU’s thermal mannequin. https://www.pressandguide.com/lifestyles/industry-warms-to-cmu-analysis/article_cd6bb3c7-a013-5eb3-bd7f-f4a1eadb23f4.html

Collaborations Through the Years

Threads is constantly growing and evolving. In 2023, we implemented a collaboration with a class called SPE 375. This is apart of the disabilities studies & inclusion minor at Central. We partnered with them to further the inclusion throughout the program. Student designers curated collections including adaptive wear for models. Dr. JoDell Heroux teaches the class all about the effects of being a disabled member of todays society, and how to prevent oppression regarding. Threads is one aspect to help create change in the way we see disabilities.

In 2018, Threads Fashion had a collaboration with dis(ABLED) BEAUTY Juried Design Competition, the Fashion Merchandising and Design department, the Department of Communication Sciences Disorders, the Clarke Historical Library, and the student designers. The purpose of the competition is to provide an opportunity for CMU students to explore discussion between fashion students and people with disabilities. The students were given prosthetic devices which they artistically enhanced. The exhibition was held in the Clarke Historical Library and featured more than forty items such as prostheses, hearing devices, and mobility devices aiming to change the negative stigma associated with disability. The items featured in this exhibition are not for concealing, but rather, they were designed to be seen and shown off.  https://disabledbeauty1.wixsite.com/disabledbeautycmu 

Clothing INC is a nonprofit organization that provides free clothing to those in need, in 2019 they had a Fashion Show collaboration/dinner event with CMU students. The student’s styled runway looks from the clothes at Clothing INC along with showcasing some of the student’s designs at the event.  

Collaboration with CMU’s Foodservice Catering for Events class, taught by a human environmental studies faculty member, Jeffrey Fisher, and with the Art and Design of Event Planning class, taught by an interior design faculty member, Susan Bowlby. These students plan food and décor for the pre-show VIP reception complete with models, entertainment, an art exhibit, and goodie bags. 

Each year Threads Fashion partners with several local businesses and sponsors whose donations and contributions are essential to make the event possible.

Notable Alumni & Guests

Zachary Stoner - Best in Show Award winner in 2015, works with WRK Shop, a menswear design company in New York City, where he is designing pieces for fashion powerhouse Vince Camuto. 

https://www.cmich.edu/global/News/Pages/zach-stoner.aspx 

Jason Gagnon - Collection of the Year Award winner in 2012 and 2013, third place winner of dis(ABLED) BEAUTY design competition, currently Gagnon is a Global Product Technical Designer for Carhartt. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXIjdPLAvzY&t=2s  

Matthew Bartels - Designer of the Year Award winner in 2009, and Best Runway Presentation Award winner and Best Menswear Design Award winner in 2010. 

Joshua Golden - Currently works as the Technical Designer II- Women’s Plus & Maternity at Nike. 

http://gcmag.org/threads-designer-spotlight-josh-golden/  

Kathryn Montgomery - Second place winner with Tiffany Griffiths in dis(ABLED) BEAUTY design competition, currently an Associate with Kohl’s. 

https://katemontgomerydesign.wixsite.com/portfolio 

Chloe Scudder - Senior Designer of the Year Award winner in 2013, worked as a designer for American Eagle and Aerie from 2013-2017. 

Carrie Hill - Outstanding Senior Award winner in 2001, currently Design Director for Chaco footwear. 

NOTABLE GUESTS

Threads Fashion had Bil Donovan, artist, author, educator, spokesperson and esteemed fashion and lifestyle illustrator, attend the 2018 show and gave a seminar the night before talking about his work. In 2017 Tim Gunn, who has been the host of Project Runway for over 16 seasons, attended the show and hosted a Q&A after. Fashion designer and Project Runway finalist, Char Glover, who is from Detroit, MI was a judge at the 2016 Threads Fashion Show and hosted a lecture and Q&A.

Plans for Expansion

Threads Fashion plans include strengthening their brand awareness and scouting more designers for the show within CMU and aspiring design students about to graduate high school. They also want to increase the involvement of men designers/men's collections and bring more gender diversity to Threads Fashion. The FMD program within Threads Fashion would like to be able to fund for the aspiring designers' garment materials and eventually be able to help them sell their creations to buyers.